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Fans urged to go "RED for Kids" to celebrate Opening Day

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Press Release |

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The St. Louis Cardinals are kicking off the 2013 season by encouraging local businesses, schools and other organizations to rally behind the team and the team's charitable arm, Cardinals Care, by participating in Cardinals RED for Kids (#RED4kids).

RED, which stands for Rally Everyone Day, is the team's version of an office "dress down" day in which participating organizations make a donation to Cardinals Care in exchange for the opportunity to sport their Cardinals clothes at work or school. Since last year, Cardinals Care has raised over $15,000 through RED for Kids.

"Cardinals Care was formed to give fans a way of teaming up with the Cardinals to help kids in our community," said Michael Hall, Vice President of Community Relations and Executive Director of Cardinals Care. "RED for Kids is a great way to join our effort to help kids in our community and show your support for the team as we celebrate the return of baseball."

To participate, local businesses and organizations can log onto cardinals.com/red and download the registration form. Individual participants within the organization are then asked to pledge a modest donation to dress down ($5 for example) and wear red in support of the Cardinals for the day. Companies can even make matching donations to support the cause. Schools are also encouraged to participate in Cardinals RED for Kids, but are not required to make a donation to get involved.

Participating schools, businesses and organizations are also encouraged to share a creative photo via the team's website (cardinals.com/red) and on social media showing their Rally Everyone Day (#RED4kids) team spirit.

The organization that raises the most funds by April 30th will receive 100 Cardinals tickets personally delivered to their office by Fredbird. Winners will be contacted directly to select their game. For more information, or to sign up for Cardinals RED for Kids, visit cardinals.com/red.

Cardinals Care was established to give fans a way of teaming up with Cardinals players and the Cardinals organization to help children in our community - both on and off the baseball field. Since it was established in 1997, Cardinals Care has invested nearly $18 million in helping children, including providing nearly $11 million in grants to over 800 non-profit youth organizations, and building 19 youth ball fields in neighborhoods in both Missouri and Illinois. In 2013, Cardinals Care celebrates the 10th anniversary of the innovative Redbird Rookies program, a free baseball league for kids who otherwise might not have the opportunity to play. In addition to providing all the uniforms, gloves, bats, balls and other equipment needed for each team, Redbird Rookies also provides extensive off-field support in the areas of health, education, mentoring and the cultural arts for each of the nearly 4,500 kids who participate in the program each year.